Filling method



Aug.. 24, 1943. Y RQ B, McKlNNls FILLING METHOD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March l2, 1941 ESQ 35.1

am esoo feo/VAL@ a Me/r//v/ws Aug. 24, 1943.`

R. B. McKlNNls 2,327,732

FILLING METHOD Filed Ma-roh l2, 1941 2 Sheets-Shea?. 2y Sterile irlrt gus l lo lz enf /g S ourQ of 5 otsenllzmg waer mder pressure 0- com Juice Storage 176.2.

. Juice pump Pasteurizer l l ,2f RONALDaM/N/v/s f Drain in a Viller tank or bowl.

Patented Aug. 24, 1943 FILLING METHOD Ronald B. McKinnis, Winter Haven, Fla., as-l signor,` by mesne assignments, to Ronald B.

McKinnis, doing business as `Winter Haven, Fla.

McKinnis Foods,`

Application March 12, 1941, serial No; 383,041 7 claims. J1..s 91155jv My invention relates toa process `and apparatus for lling'receptacles with liquids, and more particularly to a process and apparatus for filling receptacles with the juiceof fruits and vegetables.

`In filling the juice offresh fruits and vegetables in receptacles for storage it is of prime importance that the juice not only during extraction but during the lling process be uncontaminated with oxygen from the air. Further, it is necessary at some stage `after extraction to pasteurize the juice to prevent bacterial con'- tamination."

I have found that juice cells and other 'pulpy matter separate readily from citrus juiceswhile If the juice is `hot,` dry-4 ing will take place on the edge of the bowl atthe point of contact of the top surface of thejuice with the metal parts, such asY the bowl. Since the level of juicerises and falls duringoperation of the filler Athis condition is aggravated" and results in the imparting of a cooked flavor to the' juice." The same principle applies'to all other surfaces periodically in contaotwith'juice. EX- posure of the juice to oxidation is afurther-'disadvantage. v f 'l U' n Most filling processes employ tanks or bowls for containing thev juice. Such constructions prolong the storage ofthe hot juice, allow separation of `solid particles and imparta c'ookedflavor due to drying of the juice, andfmoreo'veryif any open tank, exposes the juice to oxidation by the air and evaporation of the more volatile constituents of the aroma. The cookediiavor is in part due to the exposure of parts alternately tojuce and atmosphere and to2' the high temperature f to which thin lms of the juice are subjectedf" This dries the juice and'p'ermitsfa, lcooked flavor to be imparted to it. l

In Vmy system I ll the containers orY receptacles direct from a pipe source of supply,` avoiding rehandling ofthe juice, its oxidation or drying. The separation of the solid particles in the juiceisavoided. f 1 'My system does not employ a tank on the lleritself. The juice is thus pasteurized only as fast as the `filler operates and the-storage of hot? juice is only the small amount that' is contained in the pipe between the pasteurizer' and the'filler and in the distributing tubes of the filler, these being completely lled with the juice. A constant regulable pressure of inert gas on the juice in the supply tank is used to force juice'throu'gh the pasteurizer to thellergf'fhejuice beingI 1 under constant pressureflows only asi fast as the thefpasteurized unoxidized fruit juice;

ller -uses it. `The entire system is maintained completely lled with the juice and the juice is supplied to the filler at the same rate that itis discharged therefrom into lthe receptacles, thereby preventing cookingo'f the juice. l In the drawings: f Y 4 Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of one form of system'which I may employ; p

Figure 2 isa diagrammatic View of an alternate form 0f slystem'whichleniploy. a A i Refrringffto the drawings,V I have-` shown a source o f unoxidized juice which is adaptedtobe pumped by a juicel pump `l through `a juice line 2 in the direction ofthe' arrowsL Located in the juice line 2 isa check-valve 3. A cut-orf valve is shown atl `adjacent the point of'entryof the line Z'into the topv of Va, cold juice storage tank 15. Leading intoY the top' of the ColdV storage 'tank an inert gas line 6 leading to asource-ofinert gas, notshown. The iiow into line 6 may be controlled by a' valve`-'l as Well asla valve V8` adjacent the" storage tank 5. Leading from the top of the storagetank 5 isa vent line 9 whichjoins a line I0. `In theline, lll-'is aout-off valve Il. Thelinel l is provided with a downturnedlendjas indicatedat I`2,` and a cut-oivalve is located at I3.

The line IIJ terminates in a three-Way valve` I 4. Thethreeway valve I4 is located at the end of aline |5 which?comprisesa` cil`|`5 which isa pasteurizing boil located within a heating jacket fluid." The' line l5' enters the bttom of thevcolcl` juice storage tank 5, and a valvewl' is provided which receptacles are adapted t6. be `filled" with"v is eliminated, the not juice sowing directly from the pasteurizer l1 to the distributing head I9. The ow from the distributing headis controlled by valves lila Vwhich are operated by movement of-aireceptacle leb. As diagrammaticallyillus- 'trated, the valves lSajare solenoid operated and are electrically energized to open the valveas the V receptacle lSb moves' under the valve la and contacts a suitable feeler i90. `Electrode means 19d `may beprovided to shut oi the current sup- Aply to the solenoid and close ther valve `Iflawhen the receptacle has been lled. The whole lling systemI isv maintained completely filled and the hot juice issuplied to the distributing head I9 Yat `lthe `same rate that it is discharged therefrom,A Atluis preventing thecooking of lms ofjuice left The lle'r is of a type wherein the`lillinglbow'l' desired peint in the tank.; va

on the heated surfaces by uctuations of the juice level.

In order ot sterilize the system and cleanse it at appropriate times I have provided a source of hot sterilizing water which is adapted to be pumped by a reversible Water pump 20 through a line 2I into the bottom of the cold juice storage tank 5. I'he flow of the Water through the Yline 2| is controlled by a cut-off valve 22.

In order to prevent settling of the seeds, juice cells and solid particles in the juice and juice storage tank 5, I have shown a stirrer 23 adapted to be operated by a motor 24.

At the beginning of the cycle of operation and in order to thoroughly sterilize all parts of the system, I start the reversible Water pump 20 in a direction to ll the sto-rage tank 5 by opening the valve 22. The valve 8 in the line 6 is closed and the valve I3 in the line Ill is open so that `air in the system can be vented out of the vent pipe In ahead of the hot Water entering the system. It is to be `uuiderstood that the -juicepump atthis time is not `Werking end that :the valve 4 in the juice line -2 .is'eloeed. The valve l 'in the inert gas line 6 is likewise closed. The valve vI I in line I may be opened to permit air lto bedriven out of the pipe 9 leading into the top of the storage tank 5. The three-Way valve Meis/turned toiconneet the lines I0, I.5'and -Ifl to vent tthe line I5 and pasteurizer coil ll and permit the s terilizing liquid to 110W through the line-I8 intothe Afiller head I9- Drain plugs t9' in vthe ller ,hevebeen removed. `Het .Sterlizine fluid .liushes through the system -arid is discharged from `the vent I2 and. the cleaning plugs |92. i

Let u sgaSsume that ,Sufeient sterilzine and cleansing-of ,all .the parts has now been effected, al? which time the Vent 'Valve I3 is e10sed;eas valves I and `il areopened, valve II `remains @pen and the valve `I4 is turned to connect lines Il) and I and close o i line-1 8. The reversible Water pump 2Q Ais reversed in a ydirection to suck the hot water out of the system, and 'the -system `is adaptedto be then filled with inert'sterile gas, tht-Quell the pipe l- .',Ihe valve 22 in lillev 2| is Still open. and the reversible Water pump is new in reverse,v sucking Water out of the Ycold storage tank 5,. vInert sterile Ygas iloyvs into tank 5, sucked in bythe telling Water level uitlaat tank.- Line 9 discharges its Content ef; water inte the tank 5.A The Water; level pipe I5 andheat exchange coil .I6 which is par-t of the steriliaer will fall as the ,va ter level in tank 5 falls. the Water has, been drained out of the system. the VWeiter pump ie. stepped. and the valve 2,2 closed.r The valvel It is turned to connect lines Illa-ndi l.. and shut ,oft line I Water now flows from the liner I3 and filler head I9; and.' is replaced b y eas from. the. lines l and l t.. drain plugs lll-f are now closed.' The system is. now filled with inert. steril-.e ses. Valves, l aridli are left Valve I3, has. -been closed to preventV escape. et the vinert. eee.. Aillntzx-idizec. juice is pumped t..,lerenishk ne 2 and valve 4 tothe cold juice ster-ase tank; 5.. and drives outin feront of it Vthe Stenleinert. gas inthe system which flows bk; into a vStorage tank., not shown, in orderto relient Westerse; of gas.

When the level .of cold juice has risen t0 the 1 -ve Ig I- is closed; the desired gas, pressure is bili.` up in the tank. and Vahle 1:4. iS.` mill/ed. .to throw into, communication lines.. l and; l- The Stirrer 2,3 is; started: andv the ,system is, new readrfer operaton- Y irfrlatelv the valve may be closed, and the When allliquid forced into the tank by the juice pump will compress the gas therein to the desired pressure for operation. The output of the pump may be regulated to maintain this operating pressure as juice is Withdrawn to the filling containers.

The receptacles or cans ISI) pass to the head I9 and are filled, the juice being expelled throughl l line i5 .and'valve I5 into'the pasteurizer where itis immediately pasteurizedand passes into pipe I8, and is distributed through head I9 and valves The unoxidized juice can be to maintain the desired pressure in tank 5. The stirrer:23prevents settling of the juice. sacs and solid matter in the storage tank 5. It is to be understood,ofcourse, that valve -2'2 when the system `has once been drained of Water is closed land the reversible -Water pump 20 has remained idle `during the filling of the system with the cold unoxidized juice. Because the lines leading from the fpasteurizer Avto the ller are filled -With liquid L at v all times there is l.no'danger -o cooking f or scorching ofthe liquid as large volumes -oi Athe liquid are-always in'lcontact 'Withethe heated surfaces and therefore overheating and excessive cooking are avoided. Morecverv-the'small Idiameter-of thezpipe-Ilir in proportion tothe amount of material passing therethrough causes rapid change ofy liquid iii-contact Withgthe heated sur faces. f v 1- Y vThe system is; `readily adaptable =toxfafrapid` operation wherein oxidation Jis entirely avoided and a minimum of juice is maintained in. the pasteuriaed state.

Figure 1, inertfgas under elevated vpressure .may be employed, .in which case the operation vof the reversibleyvater pump Zywill be .assisted by the' pressure @if the inert: 'ses lwhich wiii aid in the eVaCua-Oll fr0@ the system of .the .sterzin-g hotwater. f v

-For certain types o iiruit orvegetable juices.

to 'be canned `it maygpe desirablezto limiftft'he amount of -gasabscrbed :bythe juice. This`gas absorption would be increased by thefelevated pressure the vc0161 Juice storagetank; ,Figure 2 represents dieerammatica-lly one system in' which the, cold Juice is moved Yby gravity `te the eQnta-nersbeine lleci-and-only Amake up sas supplied to the storage tank ast-he juice is with-y drawn:

Referring to Figure-,2, acold'juce tank |00 is adapted to be filled throughv a ller' line :IDI

f lhavhg thereina cut-ofi -valve HIZ and a check valveg.-I 03. There is'provided a juice pump IM which receives juice from Va yfeed line |05 connected to a. source of unoxidized juice. The system can be drained through ar drain-pipe |06 controlled bya valve |01., Leading into the top of tank Ill!) is a hot Water line HI8 having therein a control valve |09. 'This Water isl adapted" to be under rpressure though means forfcreating? pressure are not shown in the drawings. The cold4 juice storage tank ,is provided-With fan inert gasl line IIE)` connected to its top, havingtherein a; control valve III. In vthe top Of the lstorage tank .I 00 is connected a vent line H2 having a Moreover the 'system 'can `be quickly-cleaned wheneverfdesired. -It is iobviousi that in the; system described in'connection swithjuice storageftank ils r adapted to .lie 4within afiuid jacket. I I9, which may contain hot fluidto .sterilizefthe juce il'owzing through .the heat rexchafngefcoiluIIi. LThis assembly 'just described comprises` a pasteurizer. Leading from thepasteuriZ`er is'a linei |20 which. in turn communicates with La "distributing head |2| that is similar 'in construction and'operation' to that described in connection with Figure .1..v

In.` the line I|4.is abut-'oli valve |22 which may be closed to cause. thejuice .to flow.. through a branch system I23havingthereina pump |24.- The branch systemIZS,` connected'on either side.`

of the valve |22 in the line I I4, has controll valves The systemjust'described permits the system to operate 'by gravity from" the tank |00 since. the level of juicein the .tank :|v'i`s. sufficiently.

above the pasturizer and filler tof'give aigreat enough.- head to permit operation voi thetsystem under ordinary circumstanceswithout `any'ad-` ditional pressure.

Shouldjadditional pressure be described however, the pump |24 in the by-pass of system |23 can be operated to give the desired excess pressure. The line ||1 is providedv with a valve |21 to permit regulation of the now of uids in the pipe which leads to the ller head |2I.

The inert gas which is admitted through a line III) is not under pressure as in the case ol the system shown in Figure 1.

The operation of the system shown in Figure 2 is quite similar to that shown in Figure 1. The operation can be divided into three cycles, namely, sterilization cycle, the cycle for lling the system with inert gas, and the juice lling cycle.

In thesterilization cycle valves |02- in line |0I and valve |01 in line |06 are closedl and the juice pump |04 is not in operation. However, hot water under pressure is admitted through line |08, valve |09 being opened into the juice storage tank |00, and lls the tank |00, the line` may be in the system through vent line I I2, the

valve I I3 in that line being open. f

The inert gas line III) is closed through valve III. The hot water fills line I I1, heat exchange coil |I8, line |20, and the filler I2I through drain plugs |2I, the valve |21 inline I I1 being left slightly open to permit some water to pass outV of line |20.

When the system has been thoroughly iiushed with the hot sterilizing water, the Valve |09 in line |08 is closed and valve I I6 in drain pipe ||5 is open. The valve III ininert gasline I|0 is open and valve |21 in line H1 is closed. The

water will drain out of the apparatus throughv drain pipe |I5, and the apparatus will become filled with inert gas. Prior to completely vdraining the tank |00, the valve I I6 is closed, valve |21 opened and the remaining water ,allowed to flow through the ller head plugs I2I' drawing gas after it to fill the sterilizer and iiller head with the sterile inert gas.

Let us assume that the system is to operate entirely by gravity pressure. In this case valves and |26 in by-pass line |23 are closed; valve |22 remains open. Unoxidized juice is sent from its.v source .through the A: operation; `yof. juice i Apipe |04 through theline IIII, vthe valve ||l2now being open, iinto the cold juice l storage tank |00, which fills the icoldjuice storage tank and the, lineA IILl` with unoxidized juice.- .fTheinert gas in the systern canbe driven backfthrough the inert gas line II to storage. `It istobe understood, of` course, that vent line I I 2 .has been closed through,

operation of valve-||3 '.during the lling. of the system1withthe inert. gas .and also during the lling .of the system .with the unoxidized juice.

The system is` n'ow iilled with `juice and the loperation of filling the'receptacl'es I2Ib can .be initiated bygopeningnthe valve |21. This will permit gasto be expelled 'from pipel I| 1, heat exchange coil 'I I8, pipe |20 and the iiller-.IZ-l.

When-the'gas hasbeenexpelled the juice willv then start flowing out of the ller |2| and valves |2| z, and the receptacles mayr,be lled with the vAs. nection withA the apparatus shown in- Figure l, it is to be realized that only the quantity of juice which is owng immediately to the i'lller is heated and pasteurized; that there is a considerable flow against the hot interior surfce of the heat exchange coil IIB and there is no chance for air to oxidizevthe juice at this stage, or for the juice to gather in thin films on heated surfaces and become cooked.

Should additional pressure be desired over that furnished by the action of gravity on the juice in the storage tank |00, the valve |22 may be closed, the pump |24 started, valves |25 and |26 opened in the by-pass line I 23, and the pump |24 will give any desired additional pressure for speeding up the flow of juice in the line II4.

Obviously the system can be drained through line I|5 at any time it is desired to remove the juice remaining in the parts of the apparatus by opening the valve IIIS.

I desire that I be limited only by the scope of the appended claims andthe showing of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A method of iilling receptacles with heated yliquids which are subject to oxidation and bacterial contamination comprising storing a a cold liquid under a super-atmospheric pressure of inert gas, forcing the liquid to a heating step by the pressure head of the gas, and intermittently withdrawing the liquid from the heating step into receptacles while maintaining a volume of juices between the pasteurizer and the receptacle to prevent cooking of the juice.

3. A method of lling liquids which are subject to oxidation and bacterial contamination `into receptacles comprising storing the liquids,

Ythe described conject'. to oi'tidation and` :ba;eter-iaiv contaminationintoi receptacles comprising storing theli'quid, forcing the liquid to a pasteurizer by pressure' of an inert gas, and intermittently withdrawing the liquid from th'e pasturizer into receptacles while' maintaining a constant Volume' of liquid between th pasteurizer vand thel receptacle to preventJ cooking of the liquid.

5'. A method oi filling heated fruit and. vegetable' juices into receptacles comprising storing the cold juices under' a: super-atmospheric pressure of inert gas, forcing the juices to a pasteurizer and llinghead by the pressure head of the gas-,- and intermittently withdrawing the juices from the filling head 'when a; receptacle is disposed tiiereunde'r while maintaining a constant volume of juice between the' pasteuriz'er andi the -lli-ng head to prevent cooking ofy the juice.

ble juices into receptacles comprising sto-ring the cold juices under a super-atmospheric pressure of inert gas, forcing the juices to a pasteurizer and lling head by the pressureY head of the gals;

withdrawing the juices fr'om thev lling head` when areceptacle is disposed 'thereunder while' maintaining a constant volume of juices between the pasteurizer and the filling head, andarresting the flow of juice through the lling head when the desired amount of juice lis in thereceptacle. f

'7. A method of filling heated liquids which are subject to oxidation and bacterial contamination into receptacles comprising storing the coldrliquid under a super-atmospheric .pressure of inert gas, continually agitating the stored liquidto.

prevent the settling of solid particlesy therein,

forcingv the liquid to a heating zone by the pressure head of the gas, and intermittently withdrawingv the liquid Yfrom the heating zon'eto'` receptacles While maintaining a constant volume-V of liquid between the heating zone and the re'- ceptacle to prevent cooking of the liquids.

RONALD' B. MCKINNIS 

